Set against the tumultuous background of mid-twentieth century Germany, the narrative opens with teenagers Hans Becker and Elise Engel meeting in pre-Set against the tumultuous background of mid-twentieth century Germany, the narrative opens with teenagers Hans Becker and Elise Engel meeting in pre-war Dresden. Their budding romance is interrupted when Hans gets called up to serve in the German army in WWII. He is captured by the Soviets and spends more than a decade in a grim POW camp. He returns to Dresden in 1956, to a city that is almost unrecognisable, and reunites with Elise, whose own experience during the war have inevitably marked her, just as Hans鈥� own experiences have marked him. I never became fully engaged with what I expected to be a moving post-war story. The beginning section when Hans and Elise are embarking on their relationship went on for far too long, and felt more like a young adult novel. This added little to the more serious themes of post-war trauma and quite frankly was dull. The latter part of the novel was more interesting, following how the two navigate their new world, but it was still a fairly ordinary tale of love and survival among the ruins, with many well-worn tropes and clich茅s, and often clunky dialogue. I found the actual writing flat and pedestrian and found myself skim reading on occasion. Not a bad book, by any means, just not a very good one. The premise was good but the execution lacking. ...more
Set in a remote Armenian mountain village in the aftermath of the early 1990s conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, these thirty one interconnectedSet in a remote Armenian mountain village in the aftermath of the early 1990s conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, these thirty one interconnected short stories or vignettes describe the lives of ordinary people confronting extraordinary events. The war remains largely offstage, surfacing primarily in memories and allusions, but what we see is the profound effect the conflict has had on all the villagers and how their daily life has been impacted by the trauma. The characters, although only onstage briefly, are vividly drawn and fully relatable. It鈥檚 an excellent collection, beautifully written, one introduces the reader to existence in a place that we probably know little about. ...more
A comprehensive and detailed exploration of Romanticism through the study of 10 key figures, ranging across literature, music, art and philosophy. It A comprehensive and detailed exploration of Romanticism through the study of 10 key figures, ranging across literature, music, art and philosophy. It delves into the lives and works of Jane Austen and Goethe, Rousseau and Balzac amongst others, demonstrating how each contributed to the movement. Although a scholarly work, it鈥檚 clearly and accessibly written, and offers the reader an excellent introduction to Romanticism. Informative, engaging and always interesting, it鈥檚 very much a book that can be referred to again and again, and it鈥檚 certainly one I will keep by my side when examining any of the figures mentioned. ...more
This biographical account tells of the romance between British art historian Francis Haskell and Russian art historian Larissa Salmina, and is set agaThis biographical account tells of the romance between British art historian Francis Haskell and Russian art historian Larissa Salmina, and is set against the backdrop of the Cold War. The two met by chance in Venice in 1962 and the attraction was immediate, although neither expected nor even particularly wanted to fall in love. Larissa was married but Francis was convinced no one would ever care for him. He had a troubled soul, battling with his sexuality, and Larissa was a Soviet citizen with a complex past and the weight of the state constraining her. But in spite of the sometimes seemingly intractable challenges and problems, they eventually married and embarked on a long and happy marriage. Pears gives the reader detailed portraits of both of them, drawing extensively from letters and diaries and his own conversations with Larissa until her death in 2024, chronicling their love across the political and cultural divide. It鈥檚 a truly compelling narrative, a fascinating story, narrated with insight and empathy and is an engaging account of an unlikely love affair that succeeded against all the odds. ...more
Set in South Africa, Angola and Rhodesia in the latter half of the 20th century, against a backdrop of significant and often brutal political and sociSet in South Africa, Angola and Rhodesia in the latter half of the 20th century, against a backdrop of significant and often brutal political and social upheaval, this coming-of-age, novel tells the story of Blaise Cressingham who at an early age becomes deeply religious and dedicates himself to God and the poor and downtrodden, later becoming a missionary, and at one point almost a martyr for his faith. The book explores belief, the spiritual life and the search for meaning as we follow Blaise on his quest, and even as an atheist I can empathise up to a point. However, later on Blaise seems to be becoming a mystic and even to perform miracles, and at that point I could no longer suspend my disbelief and my natural cynicism. I鈥檓 sure readers with faith will relate to all this better than I can but by the end I was no longer engaged. Another impediment to my engagement with the story was the flat style in which it is written, a mundane recounting of events with little attempt at interiority or insight into Blaise鈥檚 inner life. The reader is always on the outside looking in. Altogether I found this an uninspiring novel although admittedly with some historical interest. ...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling and meticulously researched biography of King James VI of Scotland and I of England, a nuanced and insightful porI thoroughly enjoyed this compelling and meticulously researched biography of King James VI of Scotland and I of England, a nuanced and insightful portrayal of a complex man. The author delves into James鈥檚 early years and the traumas that haunted him for the rest of his life, including the assassination of his father and the execution of his mother Mary Queen of Scots. His upbringing was harsh and repressive but he developed into a clever and capable ruler, although one with deep-seated insecurities. Russell explores James鈥檚 intimate relationships, particularly with his male courtiers, as well as his apparently close relationship with his wife Anna of Denmark. The result is a scholarly but always accessible portrait of James as man and King, told with empathy, and is a thoughtful and comprehensive account. ...more
The narrative centres on Bo, an 89-year-old man living alone in a village in rural northern Sweden as he struggles with his increasingly failing body The narrative centres on Bo, an 89-year-old man living alone in a village in rural northern Sweden as he struggles with his increasingly failing body and the lack of control he now has in his life, from simple things like whether he takes a shower or not to more complex issues like whether he is still capable of looking after his much-loved dog, his constant companion and solace. He spends much of his day now lying in bed, sharing with the reader his reflections on his life, on the joys and sorrows and the mistakes he has made, especially in respect to his son Hans with whom he has a complicated relationship, although one based on love, a love he finds it difficult to express. He is visited often by a team of carers, all of whom are well-meaning and kind, but as his independence is eroded, and his health deteriorates, there鈥檚 little joy left. With themes of ageing, autonomy, dependence, fatherhood and communication, it鈥檚 a compelling and poignant, indeed heart-rending, story, tender, sad and told with deep empathy and insight, an emotional read that lingers long after the perfectly executed final pages. ...more
Set against the backdrop of 1960s London, and told from multiples perspectives and in multiple voices, this compelling novel follows the career of VicSet against the backdrop of 1960s London, and told from multiples perspectives and in multiple voices, this compelling novel follows the career of Victor 鈥淟ucky鈥� Johnson, a young man from St Kitts who moves to England with the ambition to become a journalist. But it鈥檚 not long before disillusionment sets in, not least because the welcome he expected on arriving in the Mother Country doesn't transpire. He is forced to take on some menial jobs, including working as a rent collector for a morally ambiguous landlord Peter Feldman. Clearly based on the infamous landlord Rackman, the portrait here is largely sympathetic, as although it is perhaps indefensible to make money from renting substandard accommodation, this was at a time when no one else was willing to rent to West Indians, and in fact very few of his tenants had a bad word to say for him. The portrait of Feldman/Rackman is nuanced and though-provoking and the reader can鈥檛 help having some sympathy for him when the trajectory of his life doesn鈥檛 pan out too well. Victor too is portrayed with nuance. He makes some questionable decisions, and his family relationships aren鈥檛 always to his credit. The novel explores the immigrant experience, displacement and the search of belonging with empathy and insight. With Feldman鈥檚 back story of the Holocaust and Victor鈥檚 of colonialism, it鈥檚 a multi-layered novel, bleak certainly, and a compelling narrative, which is well-paced, well-written, unpredictable and always interesting. ...more
Loading...
